James Owen Sullivan, Drummer For Avenged Sevenfold, Dies At 28

James Owen Sullivan, drummer and backing vocalist for California metalcore superstars, Avenged Sevenfold, has passed away. Sullivan, affectionately known to fans and friends as “The Rev,” was found dead in his Huntington home on Monday. He was 28 years old. Local police are reporting that Sullivan died of natural causes, but coroners have yet to find the official cause of death. Avenged Sevenfold released a statement this morning, remembering Sullivan as “one of the world’s best drummers” and asking for privacy in their time of suffering. The band had been working on their as yet untitled fifth album. Sullivan’s passing caps off a shockingly grisly year for the music business. 2009 has seen the passing of Michael Jackson, Les Paul, Jerry Fuchs of Maserati, and Vic Chesnutt, just to name a few. Hopefully 2010 runs smoothly. [CBS News]